Man jailed for raping three kids

A CHILD abuser who drugged and raped three young children has been jailed indefinitely and told he had “plumbed the depths of human depravity”.

Darren Mackrell, 45, subjected two boys, aged eight and 10, and a nine-year-old girl to “an appalling” six-hour ordeal at his flat in Southampton, Hampshire.

Mackrell was told by the judge at Winchester Crown Court he would spend at least 10 years in jail before he could even apply for parole. He was warned he may never be released if he poses a danger to children.

The drug addict also forced the children to smoke cannabis and take amphetamine, temazepam and viagra.

All the while he played hardcore pornographic films on the television and threatened to hurt the youngsters when they tried to leave – even showing one boy a large hunting knife.

The abuse only ended when a mother managed to track her son down to Mackrell’s flat and when she did not get a reply she called the police. An officer saw the pornographic video playing on the TV through the letterbox and tried to break in. Eventually one of the boys opened the door and the three children fled and Mackrell was arrested.

The three, who cannot be named for legal reasons, went to his home after Mackrell got to know one of the boys at a nearby park.

Mackrell admitted last month 18 charges of raping the three youngsters, sexually assaulting them, causing them to engage in sexual activity, forcing them to watch a sexual act and administering drugs on April 21 this year.

He claimed he could not remember what he had done because of drink and drugs.